Nigerian council of state approves NLC N18,000 minimum wage

Nigeria labour congress have won the battle for a new minimum wage of N18,000 per month.

The National Council of State (NCS), an advisory body comprises of the president, vice president, senate president, Speaker of House of Representatives, the 36 states governors, past heads of states, Chief Justice of the Federation, the attorney general of the federation and minister of Justice, on Thursday ratified the new wage and asked President Goodluck Jonathan to forward a bill in that regard to the National Assembly for enactment.

The council noted that the in ratifying the minimum wage, it also looked at the issue of the dwindling fortunes of workers and the need to address the problems of workers in the country.

The meeting which was presided over by President Jonathan also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for it effort so far towards conducting credible general elections 2011.

Former president and heads of states in attendance include Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen. Mohamud Buhari and Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Briefing journalists on the outcome of the meeting, Governor Danjuma Goje of Gombe, alongside his counterparts from Lagos, Babatunde Fashola; Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio; Imo, Ikedia Ohakim, said that the council took the decision to back the President on the minimum wage so as to improve the lots of Nigerian workers.

According to him, “the council deliberated extensively on the issue of the national minimum wage for the Nigerian workers and council resolved to advice Mr. President to send a Bill to the National Assembly requesting the it to enact the N18,000 as a minimum wage for workers because it has to be revisited.

“This is the position of the council and it is done in the interest of the Nigerian workers and in the interest of the economy so at least, our workers will leave a very decent life.

“With this, I believe the problem between the government and the labour will be resolved finally. This is the position of the Council.”

He also explained that the new wage will be binding on all states and the private sector concerns that employ over 50 workers.

Akwa Ibom State governor noted that NCS also considered submissions from states on ability or otherwise to meet the newly approved minimum wage for the country and concluded that there was a need to deregulate the process.

He said the council further asked President Jonathan to initiate the process of getting the National Assembly to amend the constitution to remove the issue of minimum wage from Exclusive List so that state government could negotiate wages based on their capability.

“The Council however, also noted the submissions from various states on the ability or otherwise to meet the newly approved minimum wage for the country. The council also advised that the best approach for any deregulated minimum wage for the country would be to tinker with the present constitutional provision. And of course if the National Assembly want to effect any amendments, then the states in future could negotiate what their minimum wages will be so that it will reflect the true position of the federation.

“So that in future, it could be possible if law were to be amended for states to negotiate their new minimum wage so that the states that are capable of paying even above what is nationally recommended could do so and then that will also in future allow for flexibility for states that may not be able to pay the current wage. But in the mean time, what could be applied, will be what has been advised which is N18,000 unless otherwise advised by the NASS,” Akpabio explained.

Goje also condemned the legislation that put the minimum wage issue under the exclusive legislative list, saying “given the fact that the resources available to the states in the country are different, while some are rich, others are very poor. Secondly, we are operating a federal system; states should be given the leverage to pay their workers in line with the peculiar situation. Others can decide to pay N40,000 per month, others can decide to negotiate downward according to their resources. But that can only be done if the constitution is amended. For now, the MW is binding on all governments and corporate bodies.”

Did they mention anything about PENSIONERS and their tales of woe at all? I know they have not succeeded in starving all the Pensioners to death.